Nintendo has announced Splatoon 2 for Switch. It will launch in summer 2017.

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Here’s an overview, via Nintendo:

Traditional 4-on-4 turf battles return in this full sequel to the original breakout hit game, along with new stages, new fashions and new weapons such as the two-handed Splat Dualies. Players can compete on the TV or on the go. Whether they use the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (sold separately) or Joy-Con, players can aim their ink using gyro controls. Splatoon 2 supports both local and online multiplayer matches. The game will also support voice chat using the new Nintendo Switch smart device app (a free, limited version of the app will be available this summer), and will add new stages, fashions and weapons after launch, as the original game did. Splatoon 2 is scheduled to launch this summer.

Two returning weapons.Nintendo shared information on two weapon types set to appear in its recently announcedSplatoon 2 via the game’s official Japanese Twitter account today. Both weapons appeared in the original game.

The first weapon is a Splatling-type called the “Heavy Splatling.” Taking into account its ease of maintenance, although the mounting angle of its distinctive barrel component and its parts configuration have changed, its basic weapon characteristics do not seem to have changed.

The second weapon is a Slosher-type simply called the “Slosher.” The screenshot reveals a change in the weapon’s handle and suspension parts. Like the Heavy Splatling and Slosher, Nintendo says, there are other weapons that have had model changes to match the two year trend change. (The original Splatoon launched for Wii U in 2015.)Splatoon 2 is due out for Switch this summer.
View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

Nintendo shared a peek through Splatoon’s official Twitter account a new stage for Splatoon 2 they’re calling “Fujitsubo Sports Club” or “Barnacles Sports Club,” which is made to look like a sport climbing center but with colorful barnacles instead.

The stage has areas such as a spot for bouldering practice, a pool, running machines, and various other parts to the latest training gym. They say that stoic workouts have been more popular lately than training to shape up.

The official Splatoon Twitter page shared a few details on how players will get to communicate using Nintendo’s smartphone app in Splatoon 2.

Splatoon 2 supports online lobby and voice chat through the smartphone application. The game and app work with features that allow you to invite friends via social media, then start up a game and voice chat with buddies.

The voice chat also works within the game. For example, before teams for a private match are set, players players will get to communicate via voice chat but once the teams are decided, they’ll only get to speak to teammates. However, you won’t get to talk to strangers in the same way.

Splatoon 2 producer Hisashi Nogami talked about the upcoming Nintendo Switch shooter in an interview featured in this week’s issue of Famitsu magazine. [Thanks, Hachima.]

On why they made it Splatoon 2 instead of going with an updated versionHisashi Nogami, Producer: There were plans to make an updated version, but there are many players that played it dry since its release two years ago, so I thought that we couldn’t just add new elements but had to give it a reset as well.

It inherits the fundamental play feeling, and the basic rules for Turf Wars won’t change, but all special weapons have been renewed.

By resetting the weapons, we’re thinking about adding them bits at a time as we did in the previous game. We plan to add more than its predecessor in terms of total number, but we’d like you to experience the trend of weapons being added steadily, once again. So even if you have the same main weapon, you might see it with a different special weapon, and the sub-weapons have also been renewed, so we hope that even the veterans will get to enjoy testing them out.

Will the Dynamo Roller be back?Hino: Its capacities will be adjusted, but all main weapons from the previous game will return. Further details are currently under research.

Any changes for the shooters?Hino: There aren’t any major changes as far as fundamentals go. Its high versatility is its selling point, so that’s something we want to keep for it being a basic weapon.

It looks like the Octolings are making a returnWe’re also preparing a Hero Mode for the game. And of course it’ll have enemies, but further details are currently under research.

Nintendo will host a Splatoon 2 Global Testfire from March 24 to 26, the company announced.

Switch owners will be able to download a demo version of Splatoon 2 that will allow them to participate in the Global Testfire, which will offer users six chances to play with other players worldwide during the three-day event.

The Global Testfire schedule is as follows:

March 24

12:00 to 12:59 p.m. PT / 3:00 to 3:59 p.m. ET

8:00 to 8:59 p.m. PT / 11:00 to 11:59 p.m. ET

March 25

4:00 to 4:59 a.m. PT / 7:00 to 7:59 a.m. ET

12-12:59 p.m. PT / 3:00 to 3:59 p.m. ET

8:00 to 8:59 p.m. PT / 11:00 to 11:59 p.m. ET

March 26

4:00 to 4:59 a.m. PT / 7:00 to 7:59 a.m. ET

The Global Testfire will allow players to test four different main weapons, including the new Splat Dualies, as well as the remixed versions of the Splat Roller and Splat Charger.

Nintendo also announced that Splatoon 2 will be compatible with Splatoon series Amiibo figures and with an upcoming Nintendo Switch app for smart devices that promises to enhance online play.

This app will connect to the game and allow players to set play appointments with friends and teammates who have been added to their Switch friend list or via their social media accounts.

Players will also be able to match up with those friends directly in the game or voice chat with them via their smart device.

For example, during a Private Battle, players can voice chat with all of their connected friends when they divide into teams, but once teams are set, voice chat is switched to communication only between teammates on the same team. Players will need to link their Nintendo Account to their Switch system and have a voice-chat capable smart device in order to use this app.

If you missed it earlier this weekend, Nintendo also confirmed LAN Play and a Private Battle Spectator view for the game.Splatoon 2 will launch for Switch this summer.

Nintendo recently revealed that Splatoon 2 would feature the ability to spectate matches using its “Private Battle Spectator View.” Now more footage of the mode has been shared, showing how spectators can act like “cameramen” and watch the match, switching between third-person view and bird’s-eye view.

Summer can’t come soon enough for those of us looking forward to Splatoon 2 on Nintendo Switch, but in the meantime, you can check out more footage from its latest demo. [Thanks, Nintendo Everything.]

The footage gives us a look at a mix of off-screen and direct footage of the upcoming third-person shooter. As previously reported, Nintendo is hosting a Global Testfire on March 24, 25, and 26. Similar to the one we had in the first Splatoon, players will get a chance to try out the game for several hours a day.

Splatoon fans will soon be able to get their hands on real-life Splatoon blasters, courtesy of the World of Nintendo line by Jakks Pacific. Shown at Toy Fair 2017, the blasters come in either a Splattershot or Quick Shot model and both have the ability to shoot colored “ink.”

You can check out a video from VideoGameHeat featuring the upcoming toys below.

Splatoon is available on the Wii U. Splatoon 2 is set to release for the Nintendo Switch sometime in Q2/Q3 of this year.

We previously got to see the “Barnacles Sports Club” as one of the new stages for Splatoon 2, and the official Japanese Twitter account has shared another one with the “Diadema Amphitheater.”

The Diadema Amphitheater is actually a facility where various artists perform for concerts. The now-legendary band, “Squid Squad,” used to perform here, and it’s now seen as a holy shrine for rock music. There are concerns about all the ink damaging machinery here, but it is said that they’ve taken proper countermeasures so it doesn’t happen, so no worries there.

Information has gradually trickling out regarding Splatoon 2, and today’s newest tidbit has to do with a returning weapon. People who prefer to paint the town red with a Roller will have another new feature to look forward to.

The Japanese SplatoonTwitter account reveals the weapon now has two speeds. There is a standard walking, as well as as a slightly brisker run triggered by holding down the ZR button on the Switch’s right Joy-Con.

Even though the difference in speed is noted to be rather minor, it can have an effect on a Turf War as people will have an option that allow them to cover a bit more ground.

In the actual tweet, there’s a brief video showing the difference between standard walking and the ZR jog.

Although the vertical swing of the new action is a focused roller, it seems that there are other changes as well. You can move while applying the ZR button while painting the ground, but it seems that the speed will be a little faster if you keep going for a while. Although it is a modest change, it seems to have an impact on the battle.

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This is the second adjustment to the Roller weapon. Shortly after Splatoon 2 was announced, we learned that swinging a Roller while on the ground would send out a horizontal line of paint and swinging it in the middle of a jump would release a vertical line.

Splatoon 2 will come to the Nintendo Switch in Summer 2017. Its Global Testfire demo will run from March 24-26, 2017.

In addition to new weapons, hairstyles, and pants, Splatoon 2 will feature a bunch of new clothing brands in the upcoming Nintendo Switch title. Here’s a look at a sample from “Empery” from the game’s official Japanese Twitter.

“Empery” (エンペリー) is a new brand we’ll see in Splatoon 2. It is said to focus on sports and casual wear with a fusion from various cultures such as art, music, and more, as part of a new generation street fashion brand.

Splatoon 2 releases in Summer 2017 for Nintendo Switch, but mark your calendars from March 24-26 for its Global Testfire demo runs. Check our earlier report for the schedule.

Splatoon 2’s “Global Testfire” demo is now available to download, but fans won’t get to play it until its scheduled times next weekend on March 24-26. Here are some details we can expect to see in the demo.

Splatoon 2’s “Global Testfire” demo is now available to download, but fans won’t get to play it until its scheduled times next weekend on March 24-26. Here are some details from the official Japanese Twitter account on what we can expect to see in the demo.

When March 24 hits, fans will get to try out the game’s 4v4 “Turf War” mode with four different types of weapons to choose from. This is the same format as seen in previous Nintendo Switch demonstration events where the game was available to check out.

As for the stages, the Global Testfire will have two maps:First is the new Splatoon 2 map called “The Reef,” located just right around the corner from Inkopolis Square.The second map is another one new to Splatoon 2, and it is none other than the “Musselforge Fitness,” which we got to see as the Barnacle Sports Club in our previous report when it was revealed for Japan.

Both maps will be available in the Global Testfire, with either one of them being selected at random for each match throughout the demo.

Splatoon 2 is slated for release in Summer 2017 for Nintendo Switch. The Global Testfire begins next weekend, from March 24 through March 26. Make sure to check out its schedule so you can plan ahead of time.

Nintendo shared the latest on Splatoon 2 with an introduction to the fresh new rock band called “Wet Floor.” Here’s a sample of one of their tracks called “Rip Entry” and more on its members.

The rock band Wet Floor are the latest sensation in the Inkling world. Their songs are an enticing blend of different genres, and they’re especially popular with the kids right now. Let’s check out their song “Rip Entry,” which you’ll hear as background music while battling! Here’s some more info on its members:This guy plays synthesizer and is the group’s founder. He’s out to restore some indie dignity to Inkopolis’s music scene that’s lately been taken over by giant pop stars. When it comes to songwriting, he lets others take the initiative. He prefers tinkering with sounds to performing, and the studio is a much more comfortable place for him than the stage.

Wet Floor also has two members that play guitar and provide vocals. The guy on the left is a fan of vintage rock sounds. You can hear it in the sharp, jangly rhythms of his riffs. The girl on the right is a faithful follower of the church of punk rock, and she carves out riffs with a more hunky, bass-heavy sound. These two don’t always see eye-to-eye, but when they’re in the groove, their two distinct sounds meld into a medley of magical music.

These two bring a fast-paced technical beat to the group’s sound that’s every bit as crucial as the members who play up front. The guy on bass has a trademark string-slapping style, while the drummer uses her multiple limbs to keep a driving, super-stable backbeat. The friendly rivalry these two share makes the band sizzle with thrilling rhythm.

Splatoon 2’s Global Testfire is set to begin this Friday, and Nintendo has released an official overview of the game’s controls to help players familiarize themselves with the layout before the Testfire begins.

Splatoon 2’s Global Testfire is set to begin this Friday, and Nintendo has released an official overview of the game’s controls to help players familiarize themselves with the layout before the Testfire begins. You can check out the game’s controls, as well as the start times for the Global Testfire, below.Global Testfire Start Dates:March 24• 12-12:59 PM PT / 3-3:59 PM ET / 7-7:59 PM in the UK / 8-8:59 PM in Europe• 8-8:59 PM PT / 11-11:59 PM ET / 3-3:59 AM in the UK (March 25) / 4-4:59 AM in Europe (March 25)

Additionally, it was also revealed that, probably not to anyone’s surprise, Splatoon 2 will feature some form of amiibo functionality. Switch owners in Europe have gotten notices from Nintendo that includes the mention of the upcoming game being compatible with amiibo, which NintenDaan points out in the following tweet. However, only time will tell which amiibo will do what when used with Splatoon 2 when it eventually releases.

Players’ first chance to try out Splatoon 2 will be happening later this week on Friday when the game’s Global Testfire begins. Nintendo will be hosting a live stream during the event featuring members of its Treehouse.

Also, it has come to our attention that the fine folks in the Nintendo Treehouse will be live streaming Splatoon 2 gameplay during the first Global Testfire event on March 24 between noon and 12:59 p.m. PT. Tune in to http://live.nintendo.com to watch!3. In the Lab or On the Go
With the first Splatoon game, you had to conduct important cephalopod research from the comfort of your own lab. But with Splatoon 2 on Nintendo Switch, you can take the messy action anywhere you go that has a Wi-Fi connection. Maybe you want to choose an untraditional location to participate in the Global Testfire. It’s up to you!4. Get Primed with a Control and Weapon Overview
Research can be conducted with either a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller or Joy-Con controllers. Splat Dualies are a new weapon type, while mainstays like the Splat Roller and Splat Charger have been remixed to allow for new battle strategies.5. Capture Your Research
An important step in the scientific method is to make observations. We recommend capturing your findings with the Capture button on the Joy-Con or Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, then later sharing it with your peers in the scientific community (or if you’re like our intern, use Facebook or Twitter). When publishing your research, please use the octothorp symbol (#) followed by “Splatoon2” or “Testfire.”

This weekend, Switch owners were able to participate in Splatoon 2’s Global Testfire, giving fans the first on-hand experience with the game before it releases later on this year.

Nintendo’s Treehouse also took part in the Testfire and recorded their gameplay via a live stream. Those who missed out on the Testfire themselves can check out the Treehouse’s gameplay in the following video.

Those of you who played the first Splatoon might remember saving up a bunch of Super Sea Snails from Splatfests for item ability rerolls. The feature will be back in Splatoon 2 with a super useful new feature.

Those of you who played the first Splatoon might remember saving up a bunch of Super Sea Snails from Splatfests for item ability rerolls. The feature will be back in Splatoon 2 with a super useful new feature.

This new sea urchin-like character is named Spikey in Japanese, and actually looks up to Spyke, the character in the first Splatoon that provided the item order and reroll services. As a follower of Spyke, he’ll help out with all kinds of business.

The skillful Spikey specializes in “Gear Cleaning.” By using this feature, he’s able to remove any “Additional Gear Abilities” to make equipment go back to their original state.

They say that the removed Gear Abilities becomes “Gear Ability Fragments,” and can be kept.

Once you have enough of these “Gear Ability Fragments,” it is said that you can even restore Gear Abilities to an open slot. By repeating the Gear Cleaning, you’ll get to come up with your own combination of Gear Abilities.

Huh? It looks like this young man may have already surpassed Spyke…?

To put it simply, whenever you remove Gear Abilities from your equipment you’ll get “fragments” of the abilities, and when you have enough of these you can add it to an empty slot for that ability. That said, it means you won’t have to reroll countless times until you get the perfect combination of abilities you’d like to have on a piece of gear.

Nintendo has revealed a glimpse at another brand-new track players can look forward to battling for in Splatoon 2. Named Humpback Pump Track, the game’s producer Hisashi Nogami describes it as being based on an indoor BMX track and featuring “a lot of curvy ups and downs.”

Nintendo first revealed the Diadema Amphitheater stage for Splatoon 2 back in February. The game’s official Tumblr has now been updated with a final English name for the stage, which is Starfish Mainstage. The stage is described as “an outdoor music venue,” and something of a “holy site” for rock music fans.

Here’s an official overview of Starfish Mainstage from Splatoon’s Tumblr:

“This is Starfish Mainstage. It’s an outdoor music venue that hosts concerts for all types of music acts. The now legendary ‘Squid Squad’ played here once, and its considered a bit of a holy site for devotees of rock music. It’s a wonder that all the ink spray doesn’t cause the equipment to short circuit, but I guess they’ve got it figured out.”